Phillip Wilbur recently retired as the program manager of tobacco control for the National Network of Public Health Institutes. He worked in tobacco control and media advocacy since the 1980s, beginning as a writer with renowned political consultant and media expert Tony Schwartz. For writing and producing numerous political and public interest campaigns with Schwartz, Wilbur received several awards and two nominations for Clio Awards, an international program that recognizes innovation and creative excellence in advertising, design, and communication.

In the 1990s, Wilbur directed tobacco control and media advocacy programs for the Advocacy Institute (AI). With AI co-founder Michael Pertschuk, he co-authored the first handbook on media advocacy for the National Cancer Institute, and he has since written many articles, chapters, and training curricula on media advocacy. In addition to tobacco control, he has worked on other public interest issues, including alcohol control, housing, childhood lead poisoning prevention, and obesity prevention.